If you have type B blood, Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of "Eat Right 4 Your Type," has a structured diet just for you. If you follow a diet similar to what your genetic ancestors ate, you can maintain optimum weight and fight off illness, says D'Adamo --- although the Mayo Clinic advises dieters there is no clinical evidence to support these claims. Talk to your own doctor before making any major diet changes.
History of Blood Type B
Dr. D'Adamo suggests that between 10,000 and 15,000 BC, humans with blood type B first appeared in the Himalayan region of India and Pakistan. These nomadic Mongolian and Caucasian tribes spread to Eastern Europe and through parts of Asia. Their diets evolved to suit their environment. These early dwellers farmed a little, fished and raised cattle for meat and for dairy products.
Protein for the Type B Diet
According to Dr. D'Adamo, type Bs have more diet choices than do other blood types because their ancestors ate a larger variety of foods. The most beneficial sources of protein are lamb, venison, rabbit and mutton, although you may also eat beef, turkey, pheasant and veal. However, Dr. D'Adamo discourages eating any type of pork, chicken, quail, duck and goose. Beneficial fish and seafood include cod, haddock, pike, mackerel, red fish, sea trout and sturgeon, but avoid rainbow trout, shark, swordfish, salmon and snapper. Eat one serving of beneficial meat or seafood at each meal.
Adding Dairy to the Type B Diet
You may enjoy between three and five servings of dairy products every day if you're a type B. The only exception, according to Dr. D'Adamo, is for a relatively few type Bs of African descent, who may be lactose intolerant. Serve and prepare dishes with cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, yogurt, feta, cheese, brie, cheddar, gouda, parmesan, provolone, gruyere, edam and muenster. The only dairy products you should avoid are ice cream and blue cheese.
Type B Grain and Legume Recommendations
You can eat a few types of beans, including kidney beans, lima beans and navy beans, but type Bs should avoid black beans, chickpeas, black-eyed peas and lentils. Unfortunately, Dr. D'Adamo discourages eating wheat, corn and rye, so traditional breads and pastries are not on your diet. You may, however, eat oatmeal, millet and rice bran dishes.
Type B-Friendly Vegetables and Fruits
Eat beneficial vegetables up to five times per day, suggests Dr. D'Adamo, including beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, sweet potatoes, kale, carrots and cauliflower, but avoid tomatoes, avocado, artichoke, pumpkin, radish, corn and olives. For a sweet fruit treat, enjoy grapes, plums, bananas and pineapple, but pass up citrus fruits, watermelon, pears, prunes, rhubarb and coconut.
Concerns
Although this diet provides plenty of dairy products, the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition," questions the safety of eating as much red meat as Dr. D'Adamo recommends for type B blood dieters. In addition, Dr. D'Adamo encourages type B dieters to gradually increase their intake of dairy products, even if they are lactose intolerant.
References
- "Eat Right 4 Your Type"; Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, 2001
- Mayo Clinic: Blood Type Diet -- What Is It? Does it Work?
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2008
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